Updateable

It's past the Witching Hour.  Too early to get up for work.  Mind running.  (Yes, I know... I'm supposed to meditate to help with that.  I know.)  Since I'm up, I visit my canvas friends.

Two large canvases that may or may not be companion pieces.  I think they look great together.  The one on the left is black and grey.  The right is Dioxizine Purple and grey.  Each canvas is 24" x 48".

 A shot of the Dioxizine Purple featured on the canvas on the right.  I've had more than one art instructor tell me, "Don't use Dioxizine Purple."  "It's garish."  "It's unnatural."  "It will take over your whole palette."  Don't tell me not to do something.  I'm stubborn.  I'm going to do it just to spite somebody.

I do what I want.

Mixing black from a limited palette.  Alizerin Crimson, Sap Green, and Ultramarine Blue.  This makes a cool (blue-ish) black with a ratio of 3 parts Alizerin, 2 parts Sap, and 6 parts Ultramarine.  This black is also the base for all my greys and it works as a toner when used in small amounts to cut back the brightness of a color.

In other news, I got a new job.  Pretty much the same as the old job, but better.  I have just a couple of weeks left before Summer Break from school, and I'll have news of a gallery show coming soon.

Beginning Eleven

Part One

I wanted something a little different with this painting so I began by drawing some large shapes on the canvas with a colored pencil.  Charcoal smears, but colored pencil disappears quite easily under the acrylic.

I like the colors of it already so think I will keep this painting rather light and use a lot of blending techniques for a soft, flowy feel.


30 in 30 Blog.

Beginning Five

Part One

This painting began with the upper third a light tan and the lower two thirds a green that was somewhere between an olive and a fern.

This current look was achieved by dribbling paint along the top edge and adding lots and lots of water and letting the paint cascade down.  The black was added via Pipette and allowed to run in a couple directions before lying flat.

There is some light glare here and I may use these shapes as inspiration later.



30 in 30 Blog.

Through the Mist

Through the Mist

The chilly air of Autumn touches the water that has been warmed by and through the summer sun.  Like a gentle kiss that grows a passion in the heart.  The heart grows until it is ready to burst.  The nearly bursting heart touches the mind and the mind reels.



14" x 18" Acrylic and oil on stretched canvas.
The image on this painting continues around the sides of the canvas so it can be hung as is, or framed if you desire.
Buy on Etsy

Where Sea Meets Sky

 Where Sea Meets Sky

Summer beach time brings soothing, sometimes exciting, magical moments.  Especially when a few (non-threatening) clouds appear to catch that Golden Hour of sun as it kisses the horizon.

"Where Sea Meets Sky"
9" x 12" oil on canvas board.
This painting is available at DailyPaintworks.com.

Well Loved Pots

Well Loved Pots

As a planter, I often buy seeds or new plants to put in my well-loved old planting pots.  One has a large chip in the rim and a small crack.  It still works fine and I think the chip and crack add character.

"Well Loved Pots"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction [click here].

New Tide

 New Tide

The tide goes out.  The tide comes in.  And so it goes.

I adore the beach.  I was lucky enough to spend a few days there this month and they were spectacular days.


16" x 20" oil on stretched canvas
The image is gallery-wrap style so it can be hung as is, or framed.
[click here] to purchase this painting from my Etsy store.

Buttercups

30 Paintings of Comfort and Joy, Number Twelve

Painting flowers and abstract are wonderfully enjoyable to me.  I got a two-for-one deal here.

I am obviously pining for Spring with these last two paintings.  Winter can be lovely to paint and I may try a Winter landscape but I'm already ready for warmer days.  I did take a walk last night (trying to get in those 10,000 steps).  It was dark and chilly and the walking path was quite clear of other people, if a bit slippery.  Don't worry tho- I had my flashlight and reflective vest so I made my attempts at safety, anyway.

I am having some trouble with my lighting again so some more experimentation is in order, I guess.  Forgive me for the shiny areas.

"Buttercups"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Tea with Lemon

30 Paintings of Comfort and Joy, Number Eight

A bit of freezing rain this morning makes me extra glad for a hot cup of tea in the morning.  Yikes!  I hope it warms up a bit by the time I need to venture out after waiting for school delays to lift.

Lemons are the obvious star of this painting.  I think lemons and apples are probably the most common things artists paint (besides flowers?).  The lemons under the spot light certainly refreshed my studio.

I have gotten behind on the paintings but that's okay.  Life is complicated sometimes.  I still intend to do 30 paintings.

"Tea with Lemon"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Reading Spot

30 Days of Comfort and Joy, Day Six

My comfortable spot for reading books, magazines, or watching TV.  It's also nice for a little nap, on occasion.

"Reading Spot"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Shy One

30 Paintings of Comfort and Joy, Number Five

One bottle peeks out from behind, hoping to see without being seen.

I enjoy painting my small collection of glass bottles and vases.  Trying to capture the all the little sparkles and reflections is so much fun.

"Shy One"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Edging in For August -- SOLD

"I am the Leader.  I Have the Bell."

One of my goals for the year was to post at least once per month.  August allllmost slipped by.  September will bring you 30 paintings in 30 days so that balances out, right?

Today's painting doesn't count for the 30, it's just to whet your appetite.  It's a painting I did from a photo by my dear cousin.  He lives in Norway and his neighbors have sheep that roam free in the area.

The 30-in-30 painting challenge is the baby of Leslie Saeta.  Check out all the participating artists, here.  The map shown on the link can be expanded to search any area and if you click the green icons, you can see the artist's name.  Last I heard, there were over 700 artists participating from 22 countries.  Pretty amazing.  Look for my first entry tomorrow.


"I am the Leader.  I Have the Bell."
6" x 6" oil on gessobord
This painting is SOLD.

Destin Sunset -- SOLD

Florida's Emerald Coast

The name does have a lovely ring, doesn't it?

I guess I am dreaming of the beach.  I haven't made it there yet this year.  Too many busy projects to take time to relax.  Soon, I hope.

"Destin Sunset"
16" x 20" oil on canvas board, unframed.

Cage Free Series 006, 007

"Winter Couple" female and male Cardinal

This couple is in my yard all winter.  My lovely neighbors feed them.  I tried a feeder but the squirrels tore it up almost immediately and that was the end of that.

Male Cardinals have quite a sharp call and I can always tell when they are in the hedge directly below my window.  I often try to sneak a peek but if they see any movement, they are gone.


"Winter Couple"
Each is 6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This set is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Cage Free Series 005

Afternoon Light

I have been in my studio every day (per my mid-year resolution).  Not every day produces a finished painting worth posting but I'm getting in the habit and that feels really good.

I got a new phone with a greater megapixel camera but I haven't quite figured it all out yet.  It didn't take a terrible photo of the painting but it's not perfect.  Maybe next time.

"Afternoon Light"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Inside and Outside the Lines

Or, "Never the Coloring Contest Winner"

The title of this one says quite a lot about me.  I know I tried to win coloring contests as a kid but never did.


14" x 18" oil on canvas board, unframed.
This painting is available through my Etsy shop.

No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach

 No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach

No, you're not seeing double.  I liked this sunrise so much I wanted to paint it again.  A few changes in this one from the first.  Both have admirable qualities and I truly do like them both.

"No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach"
12" x 12" oil on canvas board, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Sunrise Virginia Beach

Sunrise Virginia Beach

If I can wake up early enough, I often find some really brilliant sunrises.  This painting is from a photo I took in Virginia Beach, VA last summer.


"Sunrise Virginia Beach"
12" x 12" oil on canvas board, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks auction.

Spring Breeze

Spring Breeze

A slightly abstracted floral.

I have lots of flowers all over my yard.  Some are cultivated and some grow wild.  The white flowers in this painting are the flowers from wild blackberries.  They are full of thorns and the petals are so delicate they fall off with the slightest touch.  They say an artist has to suffer for their art well I certainly did with plenty of pokes from these flowers.


"Spring Breeze"
9" x 12" oil on gessobord, unframed
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Cage Free Series 004 Spring Messenger -- SOLD

Spring Messenger

A round Chickadee peers into the Spring flowers.

You thought I forgot about the birds series, didn't you?  Nah.  I have lots of birds I still want to paint.  It's the getting-around-to-it part that I'm having trouble with.  Lately it has been beautiful outside so I have been out taking lots of reference photos that I'll use when it is blistering hot outside and I can hang out in my nice, cool basement studio and paint paint PAINT.

"Spring Messenger"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord
SOLD